COMP524

Safety and Dependability

Aims

To provide a critical and in-depth understanding of all aspects of
software safety and dependability; including issues realting to security,
reliability and trustworthiness.

​To provide a broad understanding of the state-of-the-art software
engineering techniques currently used to address safety and dependability
issues.

​To profide an overview of the contemporary research issues relating to
software safety and dependability.

Syllabus

1: Introduction to safety critical systems (1 week)

2 :Partial and total correctness (3.5 weeks)

3: Dependability, reliability, and discrete stochastics (1.5 weeks)

4: Markov chains and decision processes (4 weeks)

Recommended Texts

There is no single recommended text for this module - comprehensive notes
will be provided, together with links to the appropriate literature.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module, a student will understand some of the problems associated with the use of computer
software in critical applications where safety, security and trust are
issues.

​At the end of the module, a student willunderstand some of the contemporary mechanisms for ensuring dependability
and reliability.

​At the end of the module, a student will understand a variety of approaches to the design and development of safe
and dependable systems.

​At the end of the module, a student will understand formal verification techniques in relation to the assessment of
safety and dependability.

​At the end of the module, a student willbe aware of some of the contemporary research problems in the areas of
safety, security, dependability and trust.

Learning Strategy

Lectures

Tutorials

Independent learning

Formal Lectures: Students will be expected to attend two hours of formal lectures in a typical week plus two hours supervised tutorial.

Private study: In a typical week students will be expected to devote six hours of unsupervised time to private study. The time allowed per week for private study will typically include three hours of time for reflection and consideration of lecture material and background reading, and three hours for completion of practical exercises.